Couple wed among Cairo square protest family

CAIRO Feb 7 (Reuters) - Every couple wants their family
there when they tie the knot. For Ahmed Zaafan and Ola Abdel
Hamid it was the family of protesters who have led
demonstrations to topple Egypt's president.

They held their wedding ceremony in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

"It was either we quit Tahrir to go and have our wedding in
an isolated hall or hold a ceremony right here among our people
protesting in the square. We chose the latter," said Hamid, 22,
a graduate in computer science.

"These protesters are family now. We have lived, laughed and
protested together in this square for the past weeks. Ola and I
wanted to share our happiness with everyone," said husband
Zaafan, 29, a psychologist.
Thousands of protesters were around them. Onlookers cheered,
ululated and whistled when it was announced over speakers that
they had been married by a sheikh on Sunday.

Flowers and sherbet were passed around the crowd after the
sheikh concluded the marriage rituals.

The couple said their choice of Tahrir as a wedding venue
was a statement of their determination to remain in the square
until the people's demands were realised.

"Authorities want the world to think Tahrir is suspended in
space and time while the rest of Cairo and Egypt is moving.
Well, we are not at a standstill. We want the world to see we
can continue to protest and go about our lives," Ahmed said.

Tahrir Square has been the hub of protests and sit-ins since
Jan. 25 when Egyptians hit the streets in unprecedented numbers
to demand the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.

"It was difficult for us to quit the square after we formed
such tight bond of love and patriotism with millions of
Egyptians," said Ola, who said she had no political affiliations
but dreamt of a more free Egypt.

Hailing the wedding over the square's speakers, an activist
said: "These two have chosen to wed in front of millions of
Egyptians fighting for freedom. May God bless your marriage."
(Additional reporting by Dina Zayed; Editing by Alison
Williams)